Safety lock box and key organization unit

ABSTRACT

A key storage and organization unit includes a lockbox and a set of key file cards for retaining and storing keys in an organized manner. The lockbox includes a base and a cover that are secured by two closure latching members. When the two closure latching members are applied to the base and cover, a single locking mechanism can be applied to secure the lockbox. The lockbox is designed to receive multiple locking mechanisms, each capable of securing access to the lockbox.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.10/906,952, filed on Mar. 14, 2005, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/521,220 filed Mar. 12, 2004, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a key storage and organizationunit, and more specifically, a lockbox that can secure a number of keysin an organized manner with a single lock or with multiple locks.

BACKGROUND

Keys for various objects, such as doors, equipment, or locks, are oftenstored in a central location so that numerous persons can obtain accessto the keys. However, in some situations it is desirable to preventpeople from accessing the central key storage bin. This might be thecase for general security measures or for safety measures, such as whenaccess to a locked area or piece of equipment has the potential to placesomeone at risk of injury. In such cases, it may be desirable to securethe central storage bin with multiple locks to ensure that each personis out of harms way prior to granting access to the keys in the centralstorage bin. It is also often desirable to provide a means fororganizing the keys stored in the central storage bin.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art safety lockbox. As can be seen from thedrawing, the lockbox includes a central bin and a lid that closes thecentral bin. Holes align on the lid and bin align to allow a lock tosecure the lid to the bin. However, as shown in FIG. 1, a person canstill gain access to the central bin even when a lock is applied to thelid of the central bin. In addition, the safety lockbox of FIG. 1 doesnot provide any means for organizing the keys storage in the centralbin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A key storage and organization unit is provided herein. The key storageand organization unit provides a means for securing keys with a singlelocking mechanism or with multiple locking mechanisms. As long as atleast one locking mechanism is applied, access to the keys stored in theunit is denied. In one embodiment the key storage and organization unitincludes a lockbox having a base, cover and closure latching member. Thekey storage and organization unit may also include one or more key filecards for securing and organizing the keys being stored in the unit. Insome embodiments, the cover includes a key slot that allows keys to bedropped into the unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, embodiments of the invention areillustrated, which, together with a general description of the inventiongiven above, and the detailed description given below serve toillustrate the principles of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art lockbox.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lockbox of thepresent invention,

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lockbox closure mechanism,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a lockbox in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lockbox in the opened position.

FIG. 6 illustrates a key drop slot.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the key drop slot of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a key file card.

FIG. 9 illustrates the handle portion of the key file card shown in FIG.8.

FIG. 10 illustrates the key retention portion of the key file card.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the key retention portion of thekey file card shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a lockbox of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the lockbox shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the lockbox shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 illustrates a second embodiment of a key file card.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a safety lockbox 10. The lockbox 10secures a number of keys in a central storage bin which can closed andlocked. When the lockbox is closed and locked, a person can not gainaccess to the keys stored in the central storage bin. A single lock canbe used to effectuate a lockout and prevent a person from accessing thekeys stored therein. The lockbox can accept multiple locks, wherein eachof the locks needs to be removed in order to gain access to the keyswithin the lockbox. In addition, the lockbox provides means fororganizing the keys stored within the lockbox.

The lockbox 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a bulk storage area that can beused to house one or more key file cards 20 or individual keys 30. Useof the key file cards 20 allows the keys 30 to be stored and organizedin a systematic way as discussed in further detail below.

The lockbox 10 includes closure latching members 40, a cover 42 and alower body 44. The cover 42 can either be a removable component orhingedly attached to the lower body 44, as shown in FIG. 2. The closurelatching members 40 of the safety lock box 10 secure the cover 42 to thelower body 44. In order to secure the cover 42 to the lower body 44, theclosure latching members secure an edge 46 on the cover 42 under flange48 on the closure latching members 40. This is best illustrated in FIGS.4 and 5. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, when cover 42 is closed and the latchingmembers 40 positioned with the flange 48 over the edge 46, the closurelatching members 40 captures the flange 49 on the safety lock box body44. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the closure latching members 40 securethe cover 42 to the main body 44 substantially around the periphery ofthe lock box and along each side of the finger grip 50.

When the closure latching members 40 are positioned to secure the cover42 to the main body 44, the shackle holes 55 on the closure latchingmembers 40 line up with the shackle holes 56 on the flange 49 of thesafety lock box body 44. When the respective shackle holes 55, 56 align,a padlock, hasp, or other locking mechanism 60 can be placed through theshackle holes. Once the locking mechanism 60 is in place, the closurelatching member 40 can not be removed or repositioned, and therefore,the cover 42 can not be opened to allow access to the keys 30 storagewithin the lockbox 10. Multiple sets of shackle holes 55, 56 allow foruse of multiple locking mechanisms 60 on a single lockbox 10.

To open the safety lock box cover 42, all locking mechanisms 60 must beremoved from the shackle holes 55, 56 and then both closure latchingmembers 40 must be pulled outward away from the cover 42. Once theclosure latching members 40 clear the edge 46 of the cover 42, the cover42 can be opened. FIG. 5 illustrates the latch open position. As aresult of opening both closure latching members 40, all shackle holes 55on both closure latching members 40 become misaligned with all of theshackle holes 56 on the main body flange 49. When the shackle holes 55,56 are misaligned, a locking mechanism 60 can not be placed through theholes. Furthermore, since both closure latching members 40 must bepulled outward in order to open the cover 42, a single locking mechanism60 secured into any one set of corresponding shackle holes 55, 56 willprevent the cover 42 from being opened, regardless if one closurelatching member 40 is not closed.

The safety lock box 10 may have a tinted translucent cover 42 throughwhich key file cards 20 and keys 30 are viewable. Additionally, labelsor marking can be secured to, or molded into, the cover 42 to provideadditional information about the contents of the lockbox or aboutaccessing the lockbox.

The lock box 10 may include a slot 66 for inserting keys 30 into thebulk storage area 68 within the main body 10. As shown in FIG. 7, theclearance of the key slot 66 is designed so that a key 30 must beinserted at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The key 30 can berotated about the lower surface 69 of the key slot 66 in order to findan angle that will allow the key 30 to slide through the key slot 66.The key slot 66 is designed with a wall 70 and a set of pins 72 arrayedaround its general perimeter key slot 66. The wall and pins 70, 72, notonly require a key 30 to be inserted into the slot 66 at an angle toassist in preventing accidentally placing a key 30 within the lockbox10, but also prevent keys 30 from being removed from the lockbox 10 viatampering with the key slot 66, such as by rotating the lockboxupside-down or applying a shaking motion to the lockbox.

As shown in FIGS. 8-11, key file cards 20 can be used to secure andorganize keys 30 in individual key holders 74, which may be individuallylabeled on key labels 75. In order to secure a key 30 to a key holder74, a keys 30 is secured to the file card 20 through the use of both asleeve 76 that accepts the key blade, and a depressible tab 78 with araised edge 79 that frames the key head. The sleeve 76 surrounds theblade on top, sides and bottom, preventing its movement in thosedirections. The sleeve 76 is also sized to prevent the key head to fittherein. The raised edge 79 of the tab 78 frames the key head on bothsides and the end of the key head and prevents it from moving in thosedirections. Once keys 30 are secured within the key holders 74, the keyscan be labeled on the key labels 75. In addition, the key file card 20can be labeled along the key column labels 63 or file card label 64located on a front surface 81 of the handle or grip 80 located on thetop portion of the key file card 20. The relationship of the raised edge79 and sleeve 76 to each other allows for multiple sizes and shapes orkeys.

To insert a key 30 into a key holder 74, the tab 78 is depressed and thekey 30 is slid past the tab 78, blade first, into the key blade sleeve76 until the head passes the edge 79 of the tab 78. As shown in FIG. 11,the tab 78 is then released to block the reverse movement of the key 30.To remove a key 30, the tab 78 is first depressed, and the key 30 isslid backwards, out of the sleeve 76 and past the depressed key head tab78.

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate another embodiment of the lockbox 101 and keycard 20′. The basic operation of the lockbox 10′ and key card 20′ is thesame as the previous embodiment with modifications. First, finger grip50 has been replaced with an enlarged handle 50′ to provide for easiermovement of the lockbox 10′. Other gripping features, such as grips 100or molded handle 103, can be added to further assist in the grabbing andmovement of the lockbox 10′. Second, the key slot 66 has been moved tothe front section of the cover 42 so that keys 30 dropped through keyslot 66 drop into the key area 105 which is separated from the bulkstorage area 68 by wall 106. Third, wall mount holes 107 were added.Fourth, grooves 108 were added to the inner side walls of the main body44 to allow the file cards 20′ to slide into place. Fifth, the key filecards 20′ were adapted to allow for storage in standard filing cabinetsby adding hooks 110 on either side of the key file card 20′. Lastly, thekey column labels 63 were moved to the front surface 81 of the handle80. One skilled in the art should appreciate that these modificationscan be made individually or in subcombinations to provide additionalembodiments.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments. Clearly, modifications and alterations will occur to othersupon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intendedto include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they comewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Thescope of the invention and claims are not limited in any way by thedescription of the preferred embodiments, which are provided only toillustrate various examples of the invention.

1. A key storage card comprising: a card including a planar key mountingsurface; and one or more key retaining mechanisms disposed on the card,the key retaining mechanisms comprising a key retention tab having a keysupport surface that is substantially co-planar with the key mountingsurface and a retaining edge that projects from the key retention tab;the key retention tab being configured to be deflected to a keyinstallation position in which the key support surface is placed belowthe key mounting surface and a top surface of the retaining edge issubstantially co-planar with the key mounting surface.
 2. The keystorage card of claim 1 wherein the key retaining mechanism comprises asleeve that projects from the key mounting surface, the sleeveconfigured to maintain an installed key in a position in which the keyrests upon the key mounting surface.
 3. The key storage card of claim 1wherein the retaining edge is configured to closely surround a key headof an installed key.
 4. The key storage card of claim 1 comprising ahandle connected to the card.
 5. The key storage card of claim 4 whereinthe handle comprises a pair of connected first and second handleportions disposed at an angle to one another, wherein the first handleportion is substantially co-planar with the mounting surface.
 6. The keystorage card of claim 1 comprising a pair of L-shaped hooks disposed atopposing top corners of the card, each L-shaped hook including a firstleg projecting from the card parallel to a top edge of the card and asecond leg projecting downward from a distal end of the first leg.
 7. Akey storage card comprising: a card including a planar key mountingsurface; one or more key retaining mechanisms disposed on the card; anda pair of L-shaped hooks disposed at opposing top corners of the card,each L-shaped hook including a first leg projecting from the cardparallel to a top edge of the card and a second leg projecting downwardfrom a distal end of the first leg.
 8. The key storage card of claim 7wherein the key retaining mechanisms comprise a key retention tab havinga key support surface that is substantially co-planar with the keymounting surface and a retaining edge that projects from the keyretention tab; the key retention tab being configured to be deflected toa key installation position in which the key support surface is placedbelow the key mounting surface and a top surface of the retaining edgeis substantially co-planar with the key mounting surface.
 9. The keystorage card of claim 8 wherein the key retaining mechanism comprises asleeve that projects from the key mounting surface, the sleeveconfigured to maintain an installed key in a position in which the keyrests upon the key mounting surface.
 10. The key storage card of claim 8wherein the retaining edge is configured to closely surround a key headof an installed key.
 11. The key storage card of claim 8 comprising ahandle connected to the card.
 12. The key storage card of claim 11wherein the handle comprises a pair of connected first and second handleportions disposed at an angle to one another, wherein the first handleportion is substantially co-planar with the mounting surface.
 13. Amethod for storing keys comprising: providing a card that comprises aplanar key mounting surface and one or more key retaining mechanisms,the key retaining mechanisms comprising a key retention tab having a keysupport surface that is substantially co-planar with the key mountingsurface and a retaining edge that projects from the key retention tab;deflecting the key retention tab such that the key support surface isbelow the key mounting surface and a top edge of the retaining edge issubstantially co-planar with the key mounting surface; sliding a keyalong the key mounting surface to an installation position; andreleasing the key retention tab such that the key support surface abutsthe installed key.
 14. The method of claim 13 comprising: sliding thekey along the key mounting surface into a sleeve that surrounds aportion of the key.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step ofreleasing the key retention tab is performed such that a side edge ofthe retaining edge abuts the installed key.
 16. The method of claim 13comprising suspending the card in a filing cabinet by engaging thefiling cabinet with L-shaped hooks that project from opposing topcorners of the card.
 17. A method for storing keys comprising: providinga card that comprises a planar key mounting surface and one or more keyretaining mechanisms; installing a key in a key retaining mechanism;releasing the key retention tab such that the key support surface abutsthe installed key; and suspending the card in a filing cabinet byengaging the filing cabinet with L-shaped hooks that project fromopposing top corners of the card.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein thekey retaining mechanisms comprise a key retention tab having a keysupport surface that is substantially co-planar with the key mountingsurface and a retaining edge that projects from the key retention taband wherein the step of installing a key in a key retaining mechanism isperformed by: deflecting the key retention tab such that the key supportsurface is below the key mounting surface and a top edge of theretaining edge is substantially co-planar with the key mounting surface;sliding a key along the key mounting surface to an installationposition; and releasing the key retention tab such that the key supportsurface abuts the installed key.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein thestep of installing the key further comprises: sliding the key along thekey mounting surface into a sleeve that surrounds a portion of the key.20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of releasing the keyretention tab is performed such that a side edge of the retaining edgeabuts the installed key.